Architectural Terminology
By: Mandi Cellerini
Arch
Chair rail
Column capital
Column capital- a supporting pillar consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital.
Dormer
a window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.
Fanlight- a small semicircular or rectangular window over a door or another window.
Fluting
A groove or set of grooves forming a surface decoration.
Masonry- work done using stone, brick, or concrete. Usually done by a mason.
Parapet
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
Pilaster
A rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall.
Portico
Roof
The structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.
Stucco
Fine plaster used for coating wall surfaces or molding into architectural decorations.
Wainscot
An area of wooden paneling on the lower part of the walls of a room.
Brackets
A right-angled support attached to and projecting from a wall for holding a shelf, lamp, or other object.
Chimney
A vertical channel or pipe that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire or furnace and typically through the roof of a building.
Corbel
A projection jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it.
Eaves
The part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building.
Finial
A distinctive ornament at the apex of a roof, pinnacle, canopy, or similar structure in a building.
Frieze
A broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling.
Molding
An ornamentally shaped outline as an architectural feature, especially in a cornice.
Pediment
The triangular upper part of the front of a building in classical style, typically surmounting a portico of columns.
Pillar
A tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a building, or as an ornament or monument.
Quoins
An external angle of a wall or building.
Sill
A shelf or slab of stone, wood, or metal at the foot of a window or doorway.
Tower
A tall narrow building, either freestanding or forming part of a building such as a church or castle.
Buttress
A projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall.
Column
An upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument.
Cupola
A small dome, especially a small dome on a drum on top of a larger dome, adorning a roof or ceiling.
Façade
The face of a building, especially the principal front that looks onto a street or open space.
Floor plan
A scale diagram of the arrangement of rooms in one story of a building.
Lintel
A horizontal support of timber, stone, concrete, or steel across the top of a door or window.
Mullions
A vertical bar between the panes of glass in a window.
Pendant
An ornament suspended from a roof, vault, or ceiling.
Porch
A covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building.
Rafters
One of several internal beams extending from the eaves to the peak of a roof and constituting its framework.
Stoop
Transom light
A crossbar of wood or stone, dividing a window horizontally.